Hosting Healthy Holiday Work Parties
The holidays are a time of visiting loved ones, a little bit of stress, and insanely large amounts of food. Make your holiday party one employees will remember, and not be filled with regret from many sugary, rich holiday treats.
Offer Healthy Food Options
During the holiday season, we tend to eat a lot of rich foods. While a delicious treat, traditional holiday foods can quickly become unhealthy and many people get tired of eating these foods. To prevent holiday-food burnout at your holiday work parties and cater to those who are health-conscious, offer tasty alternatives such as:
- Whole grain tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole dipping options. With fresh fruit and veggies as the main ingredients, these dips are packed with vitamins and tend to contain fewer calories than traditional holiday treats.
- Vegetables and dip or fruit and cheese. Though these plates may not be the most filling option, offering vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and cherry tomatoes are great for snacking.
- Mixed nuts are a great way to balance salty and sweet options on the table in addition to offering many health benefits. Just be sure to keep them separate from other foods to avoid cross-contamination to prevent allergic reactions.
When choosing what foods to have at your work party, remember to take into account any allergies and dietary restrictions. That way, all of your employees will be able to participate and have fun.
Take All Employees into Account
Sweets are a holiday party must. When offering sweets at a holiday work party, it is important to remember that some employees will not be avoiding sweets and unhealthy options. To balance health-conscious employees and those just looking for a sweet treat offer healthy versions of traditional holiday sweets like:
- Gluten-free gingerbread
- Chocolate or yogurt-covered strawberries
- Homemade smoothies
- Hot chocolate made with skim or soy milk
Get Your Team Moving
Work parties are a great way for employees to relax and chat with their coworkers. However, studies have shown that people tend to eat more when in large groups. This social eating can be unhealthy and lead to health problems like obesity if not controlled. Ensure no one overeats by keeping the team on their feet by planning physical activities your employees to participate in. If you can, bring activities to your company so participation is easier for employees. If not, arrange a fun holiday office outing that will get your team moving like:
- Bowling
- Laser Tagging
- Rock Climbing
- Skating
When making activity arrangements, remember to inform employees several weeks in advance so they can plan accordingly. If your company has an in-house fitness center, host holiday themed contests that will get your employees moving. Just make sure that everyone can participate.